Coalition for Livable Communities

A few things in the news . . .

There has been so much talk lately about making our city and neighborhoods better places to live. One can't help getting caught up in the conversation. I want to draw attention to a few interesting local and national articles.

In the Memphis Flyer, Mary Cashiola writes about a recent Center City Commission rejection of a proposal to allow cars on Main Street.

The next day, New York Times writes about a recent decision to ban cars from Times Square.

Transportation for America just launched it's new blog to share commuting experiences. Tell them about your commute at mycommuntesucks.org.

Other cities are bulldozing sprawl. A case can be made that small cities (like ours) may be most likely to benefit from a investment in sustainability.

Thanks to the stimulus funds, Memphis is finally getting some bike lanes. Let's make sure that they are designed properly. Check out James Howard Kunsler's eyesore of the month. This is not good enough.

Just a few things to think about.

posted by Sarah, program manager of the CLC

Highways are more dangerous than crime.

Here is a quote from a recent Forbes article How to Win the War on Crime:

"46,000 Americans die every year on the highways. In contrast, 17,000 die from criminal violence....In some sense, the decision to avoid crime by fleeing cities in favor of auto-dependent suburbs is irrational: The move actually increases your chances of dying prematurely. That crude calculation ignores the angst and anxiety...No one wants to live in fear. And for any number of reasons, the fear of an impersonal auto collision can't match the fear of the indignity of being mugged, or for that matter being stabbed or shot dead. The millions of middle -class Americans who fled inner cities were fleeing this psychic turmoil, and it's hard not to sympathize with them. This fear also led to an explosion in the ownership of personal firearms and a climate of political and cultural polarization that is still with us."

Take a minute to read the entire article. It is a complicated conversation coming from an unlikely perspective: Reihan Salam, a fellow of the New America Foundation.

Check out this virtual tour of the greenline

The Gates of Memphis blogger posted this great virtual tour of the new walk/bike trail greenline coming to the old CSX line. Fun!

MemphisConnect new website

Check out Memphis Connect, the Memphis Leadership Academy's new blog where diverse, city-shaping Memphians discuss the opportunities, organizations and activities that inspire them to make Memphis home.

INBOUND FOR MEMPHIS: SPEEDING TOWARD I-269 - Summary

This past Saturday, 3/21/09, The Coalition for Livable Communities hosted INBOUND FOR MEMPHIS: SPEEDING TOWARD I-269 at Shelby Farms Park. Over 70 Memphis area citizens came together to learn why regional collaboration is a key ingredient for shaping development patterns along the future Interstate-269 to be most beneficial for the entire region. Thank you for coming out to make the forum such a successful event!

Many of you who were not able to make it asked us for a summary of the day. Here is your opportunity to catch up on this important conversation.

Read a summary of the day.
View our presentation.
Download the program and toolkit for engagement.
Read THRIVE Spring 2009 newsletter and  print your CLC membership application.

View TDOT's complete 336 page Environmental Impact Statement.

Email Sarah or call 725-8370 with questions or for more information.

Green Recovery For All Toolkit available

Green For All just announced it's new Green Recovery For All toolkit for helping citizens influence the direction of stimulus funds in their communities toward green jobs. Take at look at the toolkit and then check out what is happening with green jobs in Memphis.

THRIVE Winter 2008 newsletter is hot off the press!

Read All About It!

The THRIVE Winter 2008 newsletter is available.

Inside:
Citizen's for Sustainable Growth defeats Wal-Mart!
Sustainable Shelby Update
I-269 Community Forum - You Can Shape the Loop! - March 21
New Members
Information on FREE workshops
Book Review of Sustainable Urbanism; Urban Design With Nature
LIVE WHERE YOU LIVE - our new campaign!

Download your copy of Thrive Winter 2008. Or contact Sarah if you want to distribute some paper copies.

Parkway Economics in the Commercial Appeal

Kudos to the Commercial Appeal for this Sunday's story on the economics of the Nonconnah Parkway. Jerome Wright tells both sides of the story - the economic benefit to Collierville and the shift of investment away from Hickory Hill.

Read the full story online.

The article is perfectly timed to overlap with an upcoming event hosted by the Coalition for Livable Communities - a conversation about the future I-269, an outer ring highway that will connect Millington, Arlington, Piperton and Hernando. Keep an eye out for more information about the forum this winter.

THRIVE Summer 2008 - CLC newsletter is hot off the press!

The summer 2008 edition of THRIVE – the newsletter of the Coalition for Livable Communities is hot off the press!

Inside:

• 100 Memphis Neighborhood Leaders are Creating Livable Communities
• Welcome New Members
• FREE workshops for your neighborhood
• Riverview-Kansas Grant
• Member Spotlight
• And so much more!

Download your copy here.

Please pass it along to everyone you know who cares about a neighborhood in the greater Memphis region. While you are at it - suggest that they subscribe to receive mail updates

Need some hard copies to distribute? Let me know.